"Why… wasn't it Ecruteak City?"
Morty clenched his fists so tightly his nails nearly dug into his palms. As the guardian of the Bell Tower, as someone who had grown up listening to Ho-Oh's legends and spent his entire life chasing its traces, the sense of loss crashing over him now was like a tidal wave.
"I prayed day and night. I guarded it day and night. Was all of that… really worth less than some reckless kid who doesn't even understand anything?"
Unwilling to accept it, Morty stared fixedly at the light curtain, at the boy named Ash.
The boy was covered in mud, grinning without a care in the world—yet his eyes were as clear as a mountain spring you could see straight through.
"Honesty… kindness… love…"
Morty slowly unclenched his fists and let out a long sigh.
"Yes. Ho-Oh has never favored raw power, nor ancient bloodlines. What it seeks… is a heart capable of connecting humans and Pokémon."
"The Hero of the Rainbow… Ash, are you the one spoken of in the legends? The hero meant to guide the world?"
The bitterness in his heart remained, but the jealousy in Morty's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a firm resolve to witness history unfold.
Deep beneath the Kanto region.
"The Hero of the Rainbow… an interesting title."
Giovanni studied the information on the screen, his fingers—previously tapping the armrest—coming to a halt.
"A Pikachu capable of drawing down lightning. A Trainer chosen by Ho-Oh… It seems this boy, Ash, carries an enormous secret."
He turned his head and issued a cold command to the secretary lurking in the shadows:
"Spread the word. Starting today, raise the surveillance level to maximum. I want to know every single move Ash—and that Pikachu—make."
"Yes, Boss Giovanni!"
Meanwhile, somewhere in an unknown wilderness, busy digging a pit…
Team Rocket's trio—Jessie, James, and Meowth—were hugging each other, tears and snot streaming down their faces in pure excitement.
"That's great, nya! I told you that Pikachu wasn't ordinary!" Meowth danced in place, practically doing tap steps.
"Exactly! Even Ho-Oh acknowledged that brat!" Jessie clenched her fist, flames of promotion and raises burning in her eyes. "If that kid's Pikachu is his ace, then it definitely has Legendary-level potential!"
"Once we catch it and present it to Boss Giovanni, becoming branch managers, CEOs, and reaching the peak of life won't be far off!" James sighed dreamily.
"What an amazing feeling!!!" the trio shouted in unison.
Though they failed time and time again, at this very moment, the light curtain felt like the greatest affirmation they'd ever received—
Their judgment wasn't wrong.
That Pikachu really was worth a fortune.
As undercurrents stirred among all factions, the light curtain shifted once more.
This time, the scene became grand—and oppressive.
A massive structure filled with both cutting-edge technology and ancient, mysterious aura appeared—
The Battle Pyramid.
[Diantha (Kalos Champion): Wait—hey! My punishment video isn't over yet, is it?! Can we stop now? Please! I'll pay to buy out the rights!]
Still struggling on the edge of social death, Diantha tried to change the subject. The light curtain, however, paid no attention to her pleas and instead focused its gaze on the center of the arena.
On screen, Ash looked slightly more mature than before, his eyes sharper, more resolute. Standing opposite him was a middle-aged man in dark green mountaineering gear, his expression stern as solid rock.
The head of the Battle Frontier—
The man known as the Pyramid King—
Brandon.
[Brandon (Pyramid King): Oh? So that's the opponent I'll face in the future?]
Piloting the Battle Pyramid while conducting archaeological research among ancient ruins, Brandon paused his work as he watched the scene.
[Brandon]: A boy I've never seen before. If I had crossed paths with him—even once—I would never forget the look in that Pikachu's eyes. It seems this is a future that hasn't yet come to pass.
[Drake (Hoenn Elite Four)]: Even Brandon is appearing now? That's a man even I find troublesome to deal with. And that boy, Ash… he actually makes it this far?
[Bertha (Sinnoh Elite Four)]: Brandon's got the legendary golems. That Pikachu may have the potential to slay gods, but against Brandon… it's probably still too early.
On the screen, Brandon stood with his arms crossed. That mountain-like composure and crushing pressure radiated through the display, making countless Trainers feel as though they could barely breathe.
He looked at Ash, a faint, confident smile forming on his lips.
"Boy, you've got good eyes. But in my Pyramid, spirit alone won't carry you."
"You want to defeat me? Then show me the resolve to surpass even the gods."
As Brandon's words fell, three Poké Balls shimmered faintly in his hand. Everyone knew what lay within—
The legends that had driven countless challengers to despair:
Regirock.
Regice.
Registeel.
At that moment, the entire world held its breath.
Ash—the boy just chosen by Ho-Oh—
In the future… would he truly challenge an opponent of this monstrous caliber?